225/60R16 tires

225/60R16 is the size of the big American sedan from around the turn of the century. The Chevrolet Impala LS used it from 2000 to 2013, the Ford Crown Victoria around 2000 to 2002, and the 2002 to 2004 Subaru Outback wagon wore it too. Many of these cars are still daily drivers. Below are real prices for 205 tires in stock, three picks with their size-specific specifications, and what to keep in mind on an older car.

What 225/60R16 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $368 to $488, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 225/60R16 tire in stock at SimpleTire

Heavy sedans and long-wearing tires

An Impala or Crown Victoria is a large, heavy car, and owners who keep one running tend to drive it a lot. That makes this a size where treadwear grades and mileage warranties pay off. Two of our picks are graded 700 or better and carry warranties of 75,000 and 80,000 miles in this size. On the Outback, which is all-wheel drive, replace all four tires together, or at least keep all four within a couple of thirty-seconds of an inch of each other; a mismatch in diameter loads the center differential.

All three picks are 98-rated, standard-load tires in this size; read the placard to confirm that matches your car.

T or H: matching the rating on an older car

The Westlake and General are H-rated in this size, the Continental is T-rated. Either is far above any legal speed, and on a car that is twenty years old the speed rating is less important than tread age and wet grip. What matters more is that the replacement is not lower than the placard. Also look at the date code when the tires arrive, and at the rest of the car: on older sedans, worn shocks and a drifting alignment often wear out tires faster than the miles do.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 225/60R16 tire is 225 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 60 percent of that (about 5.3 inches tall), and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 26.6 inches. Every replacement has to match all three numbers, and the load index and speed rating on the placard inside the driver's door have to be met or exceeded.

In this size our picks are marked 98H on the Westlake RP18 (1,653 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph) and 98T on the General AltiMAX RT45 and Continental TrueContact Tour (1,653 lb per tire, rated to 118 mph). The first number is the load index, the letter the speed rating; a tire with equal or higher values than your placard is fine, a lower one is not.

Our guide on reading a tire size walks through the markings, and this one lists every load index and speed code.

Our three picks, side by side

One tire at each price level from what the retailer stocks in this size, with the mileage warranty and UTQG grades as published by the manufacturers and their retailers. Treadwear is the number to compare: it is a relative wear rate, so 700 should last roughly twice as long as 350 on the same car.

Westlake RP18, $83.96. A low-priced all-season for coupes, sedans and minivans, rated 98H in this size, graded 500 A A and warranted for 45,000 miles. Reasonable for a car you will not keep much longer.

General AltiMAX RT45, $133.99. Strong value for a high-mileage sedan: a 700 A A grade, 11/32 inch of tread and General's 75,000-mile warranty for T and H speed ratings. At 22 pounds it is also a little lighter than the Westlake.

Continental TrueContact Tour, $145.96. The longest-wearing tire in this size by grade, 800, with an 80,000-mile warranty and a compound designed for low rolling resistance. It is T-rated here, and its B traction grade means a little less wet grip than the two A-rated picks.

What 225/60R16 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 282 tires listed in this size, 205 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Rockblade Multifresh at $70.99, a 98V tire. The median is $100.96; a third of the tires cost $91.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $177.08. Those are per-tire prices before mounting and balancing, which adds $15 to $45 per tire at most shops, read from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

The same tires in neighboring sizes

The Westlake RP18, our budget pick here at $83.96, is also stocked in 185/55R16 ($66.96), 215/60R16 ($76.96), 215/60R15 ($70.96) and 175/70R14 ($53.99). The General AltiMAX RT45, our mid-range pick here at $133.99, is also stocked in 215/60R17 ($156.99), 225/55R17 ($160.99), 195/50R16 ($142.99) and 205/55R16 ($128.99). The Continental TrueContact Tour, our premium pick here at $145.96, is also stocked in 225/60R17 ($180.99) and 185/65R15 ($118.99). Useful if your vehicle came with a different wheel package, or if you are comparing an upsize: the same tire usually costs more per inch of wheel, not per inch of rubber. Prices per tire, from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

Winter on a sedan in this size

Most sedans in this size are front-wheel drive, and that decides what the snow laws ask of the tires. On the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law runs from September 1 to May 31: a two-wheel-drive car needs tires marked M+S, 3PMSF or rated all-weather by the manufacturer, with at least 3/16 inch of tread, and fines start at $130. The touring all-seasons that dominate this size are almost all M+S rated. An all-wheel-drive sedan passes on the vehicle alone, but all-wheel drive only helps you accelerate; braking and cornering on snow come entirely from the tire, so an all-weather tire with the 3PMSF symbol is the better year-round answer in the snow belt.

None of our picks in this size, the Westlake RP18, General AltiMAX RT45 and Continental TrueContact Tour, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 225/60R16

• Chevrolet Impala (2000-2013, LS)
• Buick LaCrosse (2005-2009)
• Pontiac Grand Prix (2004-2008)
• Subaru Outback (2000-2004)
• Ford Crown Victoria (1998-2002)
• Buick Regal (1997-2004, GS)
• Ford Thunderbird (1987-1988, Turbo Coupe)
• Ford Thunderbird (1989-1995, Super Coupe)
• Lincoln Mark VII (1984-1992, LSC)

Several of these models were sold on 15- and 17-inch wheels by trim and year, and some fleet versions used different tires; check the placard.

Which type of 225/60R16 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 225/60R16 tires cost?

Expect $71–$92 per tire for a budget brand, $92–$122 for a mid-range tire like the General AltiMAX RT45, and $122–$177 for a premium tire like the Continental TrueContact Tour. A set of four therefore starts at about $284. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 225/60R16 tires?

225/60R16 is original equipment on Chevrolet Impala (2000-2013, LS), Buick LaCrosse (2005-2009), Pontiac Grand Prix (2004-2008), Subaru Outback (2000-2004), Ford Crown Victoria (1998-2002), Buick Regal (1997-2004, GS), Ford Thunderbird (1987-1988, Turbo Coupe), Ford Thunderbird (1989-1995, Super Coupe) and Lincoln Mark VII (1984-1992, LSC), among others. Always confirm with the sticker inside your driver's door, because trim levels and wheel packages can change the size.

What is the best 225/60R16 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the General AltiMAX RT45, is the sweet spot of price and tread life. If you keep the vehicle a long time or drive in heavy rain and snow, the Continental TrueContact Tour is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Westlake RP18 is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 225/60R16 tires?

On a front- or rear-wheel-drive car, yes: replace in pairs on the same axle and put the newer pair on the rear. On all-wheel-drive vehicles most makers want all four replaced together, or a new tire shaved to match, because a difference in circumference strains the drivetrain.